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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0609.009 2022-2024 P /council fO7 cow.6.01 J. r.� From: Jim Lehner ©. Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 10:01 PM -+ To: counciltestamony@hawaiicounty.gov; Council Testimony Subject: PMAR "1, a_r c Aloha Puna is the fastest growing area in the county and we must plan for expansion. Widening 130 is not enough, especially during a disaster that may cut off that road. We have seen that threat come to reality at least twice in the last ten years.. Lest we forget,,, those were warnings. 130 was nearly cut off from lower Puna in the 2018 eruption. Now we are rebuilding 137 as an alternate route from lower Puna because we have learned that it really can happen and not rebuilding 137 would not be an intelligent move. Let us be proactive again and look to another alternative route to lower Puna. It is painful financially but the alternative to not doing anything could have disastrous effects, by lives lost and more, surpassing any short term savings by not doing anything! Start the planning now with possible routes. We know one route would necessitate using the old railroad roadbed from of years ago and would need to pass thru private farmland of an influential land owner, but sometimes we have to think of the good of the whole. There would have to be compromises and safety measures put into effect to protect the interest of the owner of that property, but it can be done if we start... the key word here is "start"! If we sit and do nothing, .. that is not starting.. that is putting our heads in the hole in the sand and pretending nothing will happen if we ignore it. But we know it can! Keep it on the table and keep looking at it, researching it, with enough eyes looking at it, an answer will come. Please pass Bill 107 as a START!!!! James Lehner 15-928 paradise ala kai Keaau 96749 808 938 4914 Comm. • I ( Ref. To: ICI I It Ref. Dote DEC 2 0 2023 1